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INDIANAPOLIS -- Two Circle Centre Mall stores are set to close this weekend. Simon Property Group said that Talbots and LOFT are leaving downtown Indianapolis.
The stores are just two of over half a dozen that have pulled out of Circle Centre Mall in the last year. Other stores that have closed include Limited, GAP and Johnny Rockets. One of the more notable loses for the mall was Nordstrom, which closed in 2011.
LOFT will close for the last time on Saturday, Talbots on Sunday.
Despite the closures, Simon Property Group said they are looking forward to the future and 2017, which will bring new businesses to the mall like BURN and Burger Study.
Stores that have closed in the past year or so include:
- The Limited
- Johnny Rockets
- Yankee Candle
- American Greetings
- Gap California
- Pizza Kitchen
- Abercrombie and Fitch
The closures are starting to outnumber the openings at the mall with only five stores opening the past two years.
Stores that have opened in the last two years include:
- R&R Beauty Salon, R&R Barber Shop
- Primanti Brothers
- Punch Bowl Social
- Yard House
Despite the departures, Visit Indy said the mall remains a “selling point” for the city with its unique location and easy access. Visitors in 4,700 hotel rooms can access the mall without ever stepping foot outside.
To shoppers like Dawn Hiller, the closings have become too much of regular thing.
“It seems like every other week there’s another store closing. What are we going to do? Especially it seems like for someone who works downtown and frequently needs new clothes,” said Hiller.
Circle Centre Mall's General Manager Luke Aeschliman released the following statement on Wednesday:
"Talbot's and LOFT will both close their doors this weekend. While we never like to see a retailer leave, such closures are part of the natural ebb and flow of retail, and are not indicative of the overall health of a shopping center. Closures allow us the opportunity to better serve our shoppers' needs by welcoming new retailers and accommodating the expansion of others. For example, H&M will take over the former LOFT location and expand their current offerings.
Circle Centre Mall enjoyed a very positive year in 2016, with the addition of Nada, Tervis, Punch Bowl Social, and Primanti Bros, plus the mutli-million dollar renovation of Ruth's Chris Steak House. We are looking forward to 2017, which will bring BURN by Rocky Patel and Burger Study, and the renovation of Palomino. We look forward to making more announcements in the future."


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Grains are the new black for weight loss, so why are so many people ditching them?
High-protein, low-carb diets are never far from the headlines, but each time they’re just re-branded as the latest fad diet – think Atkins, the Zone and Paleo. High protein, low-carb diets are popular for weight control and may have favourable short-term effects on the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. However, a review of the research associated low-carb diets with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality over the long-term. High-protein, low-carb diets have many people removing ALL carbohydrates – including whole grains and high fibre grain foods – from their daily diets to produce quick weight loss results. But high-protein, low-carb diets tend to result in lower intakes of fibre and fruit, and have higher levels of protein from animal sources, cholesterol and saturated fat, all of which are risk factors for mortality. This diets are also unsustainable for most people.
When it comes to following a balanced higher-protein diet for weight loss, it doesn’t mean you need to completely cut out the healthy carbohydrates like whole grains or high fibre grains. To help dispel the myths around higher-protein, low-carb diets, The Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council (GLNC) has launched a new campaign, Grains and Weight Loss: The Whole Story, to educate Australians about the health and weight loss benefits of whole grains and high fibre grain foods. A recent study of young Australian women published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism supports the benefits of a higher protein diet that is also moderate in carbohydrates – includes 4 serves of nutrient-rich grain foods like whole grains each day. Yet a survey commissioned by GLNC tracking the consumption of grain-based foods found over a third of females were avoiding grain foods in order to assist with weight loss. So, it’s time to put grains-based foods back on the weight loss menu and GLNC’s infographics does exactly that. Take a look for yourself.
Grains and Weight Loss: The Whole Story
Whole grains and high fibre grain foods are often the forgotten link in weight loss diets with many people removing them because they feel they contribute to weight gain. I see it time and time again, which is why I’ve chosen to feature GLNC’s Grains and Weight Loss: The Whole Story campaign on my blog. We’re constantly being bombarded with quick weight loss fixes which promise the world with little effort involved. Sure the weight loss comes in the short-term, but what about the long-term? To lose weight and keep it off requires a realistic eating plan that includes all essential nutrients, including carbohydrates. That’s why the GLNC launched their campaign – to help people understand the whole story and the role grains play in our long-term health and weight management. Take a look at their Grains and Weight Loss brochure.
When it comes to losing weight, it’s common for “people to replace carbohydrate-rich foods with highly processed foods, manufactured to be high in protein and low in carbohydrate, yet most of these products are still packed with kilojoules and have little or no fibre,” says Michelle Broom, Nutrition Program Manager at GLNC. But, according to the research in young Australian women mentioned earlier, “women who include whole grain foods as part of their approach to weight loss were able to lose over nine percent of their body weight during a six month period, showing that you can get the benefits of a higher-protein diet, while still including nutrient-rich, carbohydrate-rich foods such as whole grains.”
While the campaign is particularly aimed at women, the underlying principles are relevant to all of us. Along with the weight loss benefits, including whole grains in the diet has been shown to reduce the risk of developing several chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Whole grains also provide fibre, a range of vitamins such as vitamin E and B vitamins, minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron and selenium, and phytonutrients. But, you won’t get these benefits from processed, refined grains like those in white bread – instead stick to whole grain varieties like whole grain bread, oats, barley or quinoa (a pseudo grain that is technically a seed).
For more information on how to include more whole grains in your diet visit The Whole Story website.

domain: news


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Kanye West & Chanel Iman: Cabana Couple
Kanye West attends men.style.com’s 3rd annual Women of Fashion event at The New York Palace Hotel on Wednesday (June 10) in New York City.
The 32-year-old musician spent a lot of the night hanging with model Chanel Iman (pictured here) in his VIP cabana.
Despite Kanye‘s publicist’s claim that the rapper and Amber Rose have split, the two are still popping up around NYC together. Amber was at Kanye’s 32nd birthday party at Spotted Pig Monday night and on Tuesday the two were seen shopping at American Apparel on Broadway.
Kanye, who also hit up the Black Eyed Peas party last night, will soon be touring with Lady GaGa.
15+ pics inside of cabana couple Kanye West & Chanel Iman…


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SEC's climate disclosure plan could be in trouble after a recent Supreme Court ruling, but a bigger question looms: Does disclosure work?
US federal judge ruling means Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones cannot take part in FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Market Kurly has entered the Singaporean market with the aim of further expansion in the SE Asian region.
Energy crisis: why French households are largely protected from soaring costs while British families struggle
Walmart collaborates with Paramount to sweeten up its perks for members of its subscription service.
Jury rules Reckitt did not steal trade secrets for its premature-ejaculation spray K-Y
UK consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser LLC created its K-Y-branded premature ejaculation spray without stealing trade secrets from a small pharmaceutical company, according to a jury in a New Jersey federal court.
Absorption Pharmaceuticals LLC failed to show that the information at issue was protected as a trade secret or that Reckitt acted dishonestly during the company's acquisition negotiations, according to the jury.
Las Vegas-based Absorption had sought more than $450 million in damages. Reckitt had no
In a 2017 lawsuit, Absorption claimed that its Promescent lidocaine spray could treat premature ejaculation in the same way that Viagra treated erectile dysfunction. Absorption claimed it shared secrets with Reckitt during discussions about a possible acquisition.
Senior Reckitt workers tried samples of Promescent and indicated it actually works, according to the lawsuit. Absorption allegedly supplied thousands of bottles of Promescent to Reckitt for testing, according to the lawsuit.
Reckitt and Absorption finished their negotiations in 2015, and K-Y Duration commenced production in 2016. Reckitt also allegedly coerced Amazon and Target to lower Promescent's visibility in an attempt to drive the company out of business.
Reckitt also committed fraud, according to the lawsuit, by making misleading assertions about its intentions to buy Absorption, which persuaded it to reveal its secrets and turn down an offer to be acquired by another business.
In a court filing this month, Reckitt contended that it had not misled Absorption and that it had failed to discover any stolen trade secrets.


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Trick or Treat?
It’s never like Fire Emblem Heroes to miss a seasonal celebration, and Halloween is no exception. Nintendo’s mobile battler will be releasing its newest update later this week, bringing a quartet of costumed fools to the gacha title’s massive roster of warriors.
The Dragon’s Harvest update will see the arrival of Awakening’s Robin, Mystery of the Emblem’s Xane, Path of Radiance’ Dheginsea, and finally Harmonized Heroes Tiki & Ninian, all of whom are sporting very cute Halloween costumes. Dheginsea makes for a formidable vampire, and Xane is a colourful trickster, while the girls also look great as… umm… these things… a werewolf, I guess? And a ghost and a devil?
As always, the Halloween update will include a new paralogue story “Dragon’s Harvest,” which sees the new heroes out gathering candy and beating the hell out of each other, just like my own childhood Halloween memories. In addition, Nintendo has released a cute/pointless conversation video featuring Tiki & Ninian, which you can check out below.
The new summoning event will go live in-game on October 8 at 00:00 PT and October 9 at 03:00 ET / 08:00 BST. Fire Emblem Heroes is available now on iOS and Android devices.


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LAS VEGAS--Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) expects to release Windows Phone 7 in several major international markets in the second half of the year as part of an effort to scale up the nascent smartphone platform, a senior Windows Phone executive said.
Windows Phone 7 devices from LG, Samsung and HTC went on sale in Europe and the Asia Pacific region Oct. 21 and in the United States and Canada Nov. 8. Greg Sullivan, senior product manager for Windows Phone, told FierceWireless that Microsoft will add language support for simplified Chinese, Russian, Portuguese for Brazil, Japanese and Korean in the second half of the year, as it expands the reach of the platform.
Sullivan explained that the company is still in "phase one" of its launch, and that it is critical for the company to deliver a strong lineup of devices as it seeks to reinvent its mobile identity. Sullivan said the response to the phones has been "absolutely fantastic," and noted that nine out of 10 AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) customers who have bought Windows Phone devices said they would recommend the phone to someone else. Sullivan conceded Microsoft's initial launch covered only a few markets. "We were more focused on quality," he said. "We know over time we'll be able to scale."
Indeed, the company, as it had indicated earlier, confirmed this week that Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) and Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) will launch Windows Phone devices in the first half of the year; currently only AT&T and T-Mobile USA offer the phones in the U.S.
Both of those carriers have invested heavily in Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android platform. But Sullivan contended that Microsoft can be successful in mobile even without switching customers from other platforms. He said the burgeoning smartphone market represents a large opportunity for Microsoft, particularly among first-time smartphone buyers.
Still, Microsoft faces an uphill battle against Android and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS. While declining to discuss the status of OEM partnership negotiations, Sullivan said Microsoft has long-standing ties with a number of mobile partners, and that Microsoft is continuing to cultivate those relationships. However, it may take some work. Stephen Sneeden, product marketing manager at Sony Ericsson, a longtime Windows Mobile supporter, told FierceWireless that his company is firmly focused on Android at the moment.
Microsoft did have some bright spots to point out this week. The company said it will release an update in the coming months that will add cut-and-paste functionality and improved application performance when loading and switching apps. Microsoft also said it has 5,500 apps in its Windows Phone Marketplace and that around 100 are added each day. "If you compare over the last three or four years the establishment of new smartphone platforms, the path that we're on compares very favorably," Sullivan said.
- see this Seattle Times article
- see this PC Magazine article
- complete CES coverage
Microsoft: 1.5M Windows Phone 7 devices shipped in 6 weeks
Was the Windows Phone 7 launch a success?
Microsoft kicks off Windows Phone 7 sales
Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 7, partners with AT&T and T-Mobile


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Berylline News and Updates
Berylline Corporation Update on Oakland Press 10/18/2021 issue
Berylline Corporation Investor Update August 25, 2020
In 2018, Berylline has successfully raised over $200,000 dollars at Netcapital
OU INC CONNECTS CLIENTS WITH STUDENT ENGINEERING TALENT
OU INC clients, Berylline, Corp., Wave Water Works, Inc. and Na4B, LLC, have engaged with students in the School of Engineering and Computer Science senior design engineering lab through OU INC’s innovative Academic Integration Program.
OU INC Awarded $43,600 for Client Berylline
OU INC has been awarded an additional $16,500 in Business Accelerator Funds (BAF) from the State of Michigan to provide accelerator services to its client company Berylline, bringing the Berylline BAF award total to $43,600. Berylline has developed the F2A, a unique, three-wheel, hybrid scooter for personal transportation. This plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is powered by a combination of gas and electric motors and is safe, stable, and fun to ride. It is intended for urban areas and local communities, with a top speed of approximately 60 mph.
ROCHESTER HILLS — A new hybrid scooter — developed with help from Oakland University market research students — aims to bridge the gap between golf carts and motorcycles for retired baby boomers.
Troy-based Berylline Co. will introduce a 100-mile-per-gallon hybrid scooter today on the campus of Oakland University, giving riders more transportation options in the resort and leisure vehicle market. In the floor, where you have the battery set up, we have attached a lithium ion battery that weights six pounds,” Dresser says. “It can be pulled out and recharged into your home, on your typical 120-volt socket.
When people think of hybrid vehicles, they usually picture cars — maybe heavy trucks and buses. Berylline Corp. “We saw there was a void in the (hybrid vehicle) market for a scooter, a three-wheeled trike,” says Dennis Dresser, president of Berylline Corp.
A Troy-based company is expected to unveil a prototype for its 100-mile-per-gallon hybrid scooter Thursday, April 16 at Oakland University.
Oakland University students collaborated on marketing research for the 150cc F2A model to be released by the Berylline Corporation.


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Media Cause, the mission-driven marketing agency focused on helping nonprofit organizations grow and accelerate their missions, today announced superior year-over-year momentum between 2020 and 2021.
"We're proud to be supporting the many nonprofits coming to us that need to consider fundraising, and different ways of gaining support for their missions, in a new, increasingly digital way," says CEO Eric Facas. "We are excited about our clients' achievements and our own continued growth in the year ahead."
Since the beginning of 2021, Media Cause has won more than 40 new clients including the It Gets Better Project, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, MassChallenge, Westcoast Children's Clinic and Generation USA. The company more than doubled its staff this year and now has more than 60 employees to serve its rapidly expanding client base.
Other notable achievements from 2021 include:
Provided more than 300 hours in pro-bono services, to pro-bono clients including 3D Girls Inc., EmpreSomos, Neurodiversity in the Workplace, Creative Reaction Lab, Active+ and Brownicity. re:imagine/ATL, Camelback Ventures and Pro-Choice Arizona have just signed on as new pro-bono clients.
Continued high demand for the RiseUP Marketing Fellowship, a nine-month, fully paid marketing fellowship currently sponsored by Media Cause designed to increase access to career opportunities in the advertising and marketing industry. In 2021, Media Cause completed two cohorts, converting five fellows to full-time company employees. A third cohort began in mid-January 2022.
Won 22 industry awards, including: San Francisco and Atlanta Addy's, Hermes, Inc. 5000, Telly, AVA Digital and Viddy.
"Media Cause has taken a strategic and systematic approach to building Pathfinder's digital program, meeting and exceeding every goal we throw at them," says Tyler Kalogeros-Treschuk, Director of Development Operations at Pathfinder. "They have streamlined our email, social media, and digital advertising tools; helped build up our own internal capacity; expanded our supporter list and dramatically increased our digital revenue. Their team is like an extension of our own, and we are thrilled with what we've been able to accomplish together!" continues Madeline Halperin-Robinson, Marketing Manager at Pathfinder.
About Media Cause
Media Cause is a mission-driven marketing agency that helps nonprofit organizations grow and accelerate their impact. Our data-driven approach connects nonprofits with individuals across their entire supporter journey: from awareness and recruitment, to fundraising and advocacy, and every touchpoint in between. Our noteworthy clients include: HeadCount, American Kennel Club, Parkinson's Foundation and many more.


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San Diego, California, March 8, 2016 – Kerastem Technologies, a partner of Puregraft, is currently conducting an FDA study investigating hair loss in women and men. To learn more, visit https://kerastem.com/clinical-trial.
About Puregraft Puregraft is a private company owned by Bimini Technologies. The Bimini portfolio of products also includes Kerastem Technologies LLC (www.kerastem.com) a leading hair growth company currently engaged in a Phase II clinical trial in the United States. The Kerastem Hair Therapy is CE Mark approved outside the United States.


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If you’ve ever wished your Android phone could do all the fancy things iPhones can with Siri, you’re in luck.
Google has announced it will roll out its Siri-like ‘Google Assistant’ software to all Android phones running versions 6.0 (Marshmallow) or 7.0 (Nougat), first across the US, then to Australia, the UK, Canada, and Germany.
Any phone purchased in the last 18 months is likely to be running the newer versions of Android and therefore will be able to take advantage of the new features rolling out. Older phones that have been updated recently will also likely support the software.
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Announcing the news on its blog, Google says Assistant is “conversational, personal and helps you get things done—from telling you about your day to taking a selfie”.
Assistant functions in a similar way to Siri, but includes features similar to those seen in Amazon’s home assistant device Alexa. Google suggests asking Assistant things like “Do I need an umbrella today?” or “What’s my confirmation number for my London flight?”.
Google pushes the “conversational” aspect of Assistant as a selling point over competitors like Siri. Users can ask a question of Assistant, then ask it several follow up questions. The app will track all the questions that have been asked to generate a conversational, and provide answers with context of previous questions asked.
For SME owners always on the go, this new rollout could let you get things done quicker and easier, without you having to pick up your phone.
The app syncs with a number of other apps, such as PayPal or Spotify, letting users play music or send payments by using voice commands. It also comprehends simple commands, like “Remind me to buy a bag of grapes” or “who invented sushi?”.


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Konga is now the most visited Nigeria owned website in Nigeria according to Alexa’s ranking for today, December 26, 2014. This means that Nairaland have been dethroned from the prestigious position. Overall, Konga is now 7th ahead of Twitter in 8th, while Jumia, Konga’s major competitor in the online retail space maintains its 9th position.
Last week, when I reported on the fact that Konga broke into the top 10 for the first time joining Jumia which did same about two weeks earlier, I predicted that with the fast traffic growth of the two online stores and the near flat growth of Nairaland that it was only a matter of time before Nairaland is overtaken by one or both of the online stores.
You may also be interested in Konga Yakata Deals
Helped largely by Christmas sales Konga and Jumia have climbed up the Alexa ranking very fast in the last couple of weeks. Konga have moved from 10th last week to 7th displacing Twitter which occupied the position last week. Twitter dropped to 8th, while Nairaland which was in 8th have now dropped to the 10th position. Jumia maintains its 9th position from last week.
Note that Nairaland still gets more traffic than Konga and Jumia when global ranking is considered. Nairaland currently has a global rank of 1189, while Konga and Jumia are ranked 2318 and 2113 respectively.
Have never shopped online before? Visit Konga to take that first step.
More on Konga
- Jumia now one of Nigeria’s 10 most visited websites
- Slot Phones now on Konga
- Konga Black Friday
- Jumia Black Friday
- Cyber Monday Sale on Konga
- Konga Opens Marketplace to all
- Lenovo Laptop Deals at Konga
- Shop for Christmas at Konga
- Best 32-inch TVs at Konga
- Konga 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways
- Konga Marketplace


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Catch Kyle Knutson tonight, May 19, downtown at Paramount. Here’s more about this talented musician.
The popular KidsZone program at GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness is expanding.
Here’s a roundup of recent regional news of interest to the Sioux Falls business community.
Escapades at 3313 S. Western Ave. added its third escape room in January, and a fourth one is coming this summer.
A new fundraiser this week from Girl Scouts – Dakota Horizons combines the Scouts’ iconic cookies with celebrity chefs and beer and wine sampling.
It’s American Craft Beer Week, and the breweries and bars in Sioux Falls are joining the celebration.
Golf Addiction and KSFY are hosting regular food truck events this year.
An event that bills itself as South Dakota’s largest geek convention will be held this weekend in Sioux Falls.
Eleven downtown properties will be on display for interested visitors during the May 13 downtown loft tour.
The Co-op Natural Foods is connecting its customers with local farmers and fresh produce today and Saturday.
Have a business news item to share with us?


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The much-awaited Super Bowl LV or Super Bowl 2021, happening on Sunday, Feb. 7, is now ready for the big battles between NFL’s famous line-ups.
A lot of people watch this sports event, but not everyone streams it live due to the football. Few of them sit down to watch it for the advertisements.
Luckily, Youtube has now announced that the Super Bowl LV ads can now be available to exclusively watch on the platform.
This means, no football games, just the ads.
Why people watch Super Bowl ads?
Football is one of the most-watched sport events in America, specifically the Super Bowl of National Football League (NFL).
For this year, Super Bowl LV will be shown on Sunday, with teams like Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs fighting for the title.
Though a lot of Americans eagerly wait for this memorable day—whether for Bucs fans or Chiefs—a couple of people, interestingly, watch this event for one thing only: advertisements.
It’s not uncommon that some people prefer to watch the yearly Super Bowl, just for commercials.
After all, it is still part of the tradition of the anticipated sports event.
Youtube features Super Bowl LV ads only
To those who only watch Super Bowl for the ads, here’s a surprising treat from Youtube.
Called Youtube AdBlitz, this plan offers an exclusive access to all Super Bowl ads, to be shown during the game.
This includes all the commercials, featuring the extended cuts and more.
“AdBlitz is YouTube’s annual home for both in-game and digital-only advertisers to showcase their Big Game ads. It’s a one-stop shop for fans to discover and watch their favorite Big Game ads before, during and after the game. You can find ads, teasers, extended cuts and more at youtube.com/adblitz ,” said by Google on its page.
So far, the channel already contains the pre-game advertisements and teasers such as Old Spice, Amazon, Budweiser, and other expected brands.
Check out the available videos, as early as now, from the official Youtube page.
How to watch the Super Bowl LV, anywhere you are in the world?
Just in case, you’re still looking to watch the game while watching the ads, here’s how you can stream the Super Bowl LV, anywhere you are, whether you’re Chiefs or Buccaneers.
To watch the game for free in the US, you can go to CBS channel for the kick-off of the event until the game ends.
If you don’t have cable channel for CBS, you can pay for CBS standalone streaming service, CBS All Access, for only $5.99 a month.
Aside CBS, you can also pay for subscriptions on Hulu, YoutubeTV, or Fubo TV.
If watching from abroad
Let’s say, you have a flight on Sunday or you live outside America, there are still ways to watch the game.
Only thing you should do is to download a VPN to avoid geo-blocks, in order to watch the streamed programs. Make sure to download a legitimate and safe VPN, though.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.


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NITN | @notintownlive | 16 Jul 2019
Kolkata, July 16: Godrej Interio is all set to open a new store at Axis Mall in New Town, Kolkata, within a month, said furniture company's vice president Subodh Mehta.
Mehta said this in an interaction with IBNS as the company inaugurated its sixth store in Kolkata recently. The sixth store is located in Joka.
Speaking about the company's new focus areas, Mehta said his company is concentrating more on the aesthetic part.
"Now the middle-class people are becoming decor-conscious. So we are stressing on the aesthetics part," said the vice president.
Also Mehta said West Bengal is one of the strong markets of Godrej.
Divulging the marketing strategy, Mehta said Godrej is not much keen to focus on competitors like IKEA but people.
"Our focus will be on consumers and not competitors. This will be our marketing strategy," he said.
Across the nation, Godrej presently has 250 larges stores, 650 dealers and 2000 retailers.
Though the offline market is still dominant, Mehta said Godrej is aiming to "revamp" its online platform.
"Online market is not more than 5% but it will grow. It is growing but we are going to revamp it," said Mehta.
Godrej is also looking to expand its footprints in tier 2 and 3 towns as well.
Getting into the nerves of each families, Mehta said kid segment is having a huge demand nowadays.
"Kid segment is growing. We are going to make furniture which will help to do two to three activities like sleep, study and play," he said.
(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh)
- Indian social activist and cultural patron Sundeep Bhutoria meets Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali in Oslo
- Roses are Blood Red will make you wonder if such lovers still exist: Novoneel Chakraborty on new book in Kolkata
- Avik Chanda’s book Dara Shukoh The Man Who Would Be King launched in Kolkata
- Tobacco Free West Bengal campaign with students to restrict tobacco products near school premises
- Bengal's flautist cop enthralls audience at ICCR recital
- Union home ministry asks every state and UTs to strictly enforce ban on e-cigarettes
- Cardinal Bo appeals to Myanmar’s rulers for dialogue with all
- West Bengal Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay inaugurates free health camp
- Tobacco Free West Bengal Campaign applauds state govt’s decision to ban gutkha, khaini and pan masala
- Salem’s Sona College of Technology bags 2 top AICTE-CII awards for Best Industry Linkage
Guwahati/NITN: In view of the Assam Bandh which took place on Tuesday, GoAir is offering waiver on date change fees/rescheduling of tickets for travel to and from Guwahati with immediate effect for the day.
Mumbai/NITN: Maldives Tourism Minister Ali Waheed inaugurated this season’s first flight of Indian airline GoAir that recommenced its Malé operations from India with direct flights, five days a week from Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru.
New Delhi/NITN: Alliance Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India, has flagged-off its first flight operations between the capital city of Assam, Guwahati to Dimapur, the largest city of Nagaland, to the capital city of Manipur, Imphal, making it the 236 route under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - UdeDeshKaAamNagrik, RCS-UDAN, under the Indian government.


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Protests at the world’s largest iPhone factory have turned violent in China, with livestreamed online video showing clashes between workers and police, the BBC reported.
The factory, part of Hon Hai Precision of Taiwan, better known by its trade name Foxconn, saw Covid-related lockdowns at the Zhengzhou facility last month, “prompting some workers to break out and go home,” the BBC said.
More than 100,000 signed up to work at the facility following a recruitment drive, CNN reported last week.
Protesting workers said the plant subsequently “changed the contract they promised,” the BBC said.
Hundreds of workers joined protests, “with some men smashing surveillance cameras and windows,” Reuters reported today, citing footage uploaded on social media.
The protests come just ahead of the holiday shopping season in the United States.
China, which has been trying to ease on stringent “zero-Covid” rules that have damaged its economy, had more than 27,000 new Covid cases on Tuesday, one of the highest totals since the pandemic began.
Hon Hai’s shares ended unchanged at NT$100.50 at the Taiwan Stock Exchange today. They have lost 2.4% in the past month, compared with a 13.6% rise in Taiwan’s benchmark weighted price index. The index closed up 0.5% at 14,608.54 today.
Hon Hai founder Terry Gou is worth $6.1 billion on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List today.
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IAB determines U.S.'s most mobile-savvy cities
The Interactive Advertising Bureau has released their second index revealing which cities in the U.S. house the most mobile-savvy citizens.
The Interactive Advertising Bureau's 2012 U.S. Mobile Shopping Savvy Cities Index, the second to be released, ranks cities according to their mobile shopping audience and how much residents either complete purchases via their mobile device or use them to research products later bought in brick and mortar stores.
The study pinpoints cities where advertisers need to quickly embrace mobile strategies as part of their overall plans to attract shoppers.
"Identifying mobile shoppers and delivering relevant messages to consumers as they are in shopping mode represents a key opportunity for marketers," says Joe Laszlo, Deputy Director, IAB Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence.
For the second year running, Houston takes the top spot with Seattle-Tacoma and San Francisco replacing New York and Atlanta in second and third place. Last year, the San Francisco area, traditionally the center of all things tech, was outside the top 10 in eleventh place.
This year's index looks like this:
3. San Francisco
4. Los Angeles
5. New York City
8. Dallas-Ft. Worth
11. Washington, D.C.
13. Tampa-St. Petersburg
15. Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Top 3 social trends to watch in 2015
- Why clicks will regain importance in 2015
- Security concerns cause 23% of consumers to shop less online
- Mobile and online key resource for last-minute Christmas shoppers
- Third of consumers never pay full price online
- Online cash register bells will continue ringing on Christmas Day and Boxing Day
- Experts: App usage will change in 2015
- How data will influence 2015
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With one year to go until Britain exits the EU, businesses across the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent area are being invited to give their views on the opportunities and challenges ahead and ensure their input is heard on the crucial decisions being made.
On Wednesday March 28, businesses and other interested parties are invited to come together for an update on the thinking that has already been done about Brexit’s implications for the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire economy by local partners from the public and private sector.
The event will take place from 1pm to 3pm at the County Buildings in Stafford town centre, with a working lunch and refreshments provided. Places are limited, so to RSVP please email firstname.lastname@example.org
Businesses will be asked to offer their ideas on how plans for the future of the local economy can be strengthened. The views of business will be vital to making a success of Brexit for the region.
Co-hosted by Staffordshire County Council, the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the Federation of Small Businesses, and the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, the meeting will bring together businesses from a range of perspectives.
The keynote speakers include Councillor Alastair Little, who chairs the All-Party Member Group on External Affairs at Staffordshire County Council. The group has developed a new report into impacts of Brexit for the area and is asking interested businesses to comment and help to shape this further.
Joining him on the panel will be David Frost CBE, Chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Sara Williams, Chief Executive of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and Karen Woolley, Development Manager for Staffordshire and West Midlands, Federation of Small Businesses.
Cllr Little said: “Staffordshire has a thriving economy with near full employment and a successful mix of global leading business and smaller enterprises. It is a priority for the county council and our partners to support continued business growth and the creation of better paid jobs. Brexit will be a huge change for the whole of the UK and we are determined to make the very best out of it for Staffordshire businesses and to remain a premier county to locate new business ideas. All views are vital to us as we shape our plans for the future and I’d urge as many as possible to attend our event.”
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership chairman David Frost CBE said: “It is clear that the local economy will be impacted by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, but as yet we are unsure what the effects will be, both positive and negative.
“We need to be prepared and, as such, it is important to get a clearer understanding of the issues that concern business.”
The expert keynote speakers will set up a conversation, under Chatham House rules, about how the local economy and the wider UK can get the best from Brexit, and the views businesses offer will be used to develop practical recommendations.


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December 8 2013 Latest news:
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
A FENLAND charity shop has been left with a bill for more than £1,000 and unable to do its normal collections this week after an RSPCA van was targeted by thieves.
Sue Satchwell, who manages the RSPCA store on March High Street, discovered on Monday morning that a Catalytic Converter had been stolen from underneath the van.
She said: “It is unbelievable that anybody would take from a charity van.
“A Catalytic Converter is very hard and expensive to replace - it is costing us more than £1,000.
“We are only a very small branch and all the money we raise goes towards helping vulnerable animals.
“The van has been off the road all week so we have been unable to do our normal collections.”
However, the shop has received an unexpected boost from a generous customer.
Mrs Satchwell said: “A customer overheard us discussing what had happened with the van and was visibly upset that some one could target a charity shop so they gave us a £100 donation.”


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The U.S. chemical industry is growing, and is increasingly reliant on the U.S. trucking system. With announced investments of more than $200 billion and 330 manufacturing projects over the next decade, a recent economic analysis found that new chemical production in the U.S. will result in more than 1 million additional shipments per year. This will require over 600K additional truck shipments each year. ACC is concerned that constraints in the trucking industry may hinder our industry’s future growth and investments in the U.S. economy.
A survey of ACC members revealed that 81% of companies have experienced significant challenges due to constraints in the trucking industry. These challenges include service deterioration, delays, and missed shipments, resulting reduced productivity, increased transportation costs, and lost business. The United States needs smarter trucking policies to address these challenges.
Updating and maximizing U.S. truck standards will help meet current and future transportation needs of chemical manufacturers, as well as the farmers, manufacturers and energy producers who depend on the business of chemistry.


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POLOKWANE; LIMPOPO: Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) will distribute 3000 themed roses as part of welcoming spring. This activation will kick start the social media campaign in celebration of Tourism Month at the following intersections of the five towns of the province:
- Vhembe (Makhado) : N1 and Songodzi Street (Makhado)
- Mopani (Tzaneen) : R 71 and Voortrekker Street (Tzaneen – next to Sasol Garage and Lifestyle Centre).
- Waterberg (Modimolle) : Cnr. Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Madela Streets.
- Capricorn (Polokwane) : N1 and Munnik Street, N1 main road opposite Muslim School and Cnr. Thabo Mbeki and Greef Streets.
- Sekhukhune (Groblersdal) : Voortrekker and Van Riebek Streets
Find a flower that is indigenous to Limpopo. Upload it on your Facebook or twitter page include the #Golimpopo and you could win 1 of 25 weekend’s holidays.
The 2016 tourism month theme, as driven by South African Tourism, is “Tourism for all, universal accessibility” and is included in all marketing efforts for the period. This activation comes on the backdrop of a successful National and Provincial tourism month launches that took place two days ago at Porche Villa Hotel in Thohoyandou.
“Tourism Month is now in full swing and we urge our people to take advantage of the various special packages the industry has to offer during the month of tourism. We further urge all our people to take part in all the activities for this month as we celebrate tourism in the province in particular and the country at large”, said the Acting CEO of LTA, Ms. Lulama Tshabalala.
The official tourism month hashtags are #TourismForAll #Golimpopo


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PARIS — Mobile Art — the otherworldly exhibition pavilion Chanel christened in March 2008 and sidelined only nine months into its two-year global tour — has come to rest permanently in the French capital.
Chanel has donated the Zaha Hadid-designed structure to the Arab World Institute, the Jean Nouvel-designed museum here, which plans to make it a showcase for contemporary art exhibitions.
“We’ll have a strong visibility in Paris with this building,” Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel fashion, told WWD. “It will give people an opportunity to see something new.”
Workers will soon begin mounting the gleaming white 7,500-square-foot structure in the plaza in front of the metal-and-glass Nouvel building, uniting the works of two winners of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. Iraqi-born Hadid was the laureate in 2004; Nouvel, a Frenchman, in 2008.
The first exhibition — dedicated to Hadid’s oeuvre — is slated to open in late March 2011, with Chanel and the museum co-hosting an event. Pavlovsky declined to comment on the value of its gift.
Hadid said the donation “offers many exciting possibilities for groundbreaking exhibitions in the center of Paris; a truly unique opportunity for the unknown and untested, and for new technologies and media to be explored — a catalyst for the instigation and exchange of ideas.”
Conceived by Karl Lagerfeld with Hadid, the Mobile Art “contemporary art container” debuted in Hong Kong and traveled to Tokyo and New York, showcasing 15 contemporary artists — from Daniel Buren to Yoko Ono — who created works inspired by Chanel’s iconic 2.55 handbag. The toroidal building, while reminiscent of the Starship Enterprise or a UFO, has a gridlike surface that vaguely evokes the bag’s quilted surface.
The project was mothballed after its Manhattan leg amid the spiraling economic crisis — and sharp criticism of its splashy nature. It had been meant to travel to Los Angeles, London, Moscow and Paris.
Chanel estimates about 100,000 people toured the Hadid pavilion in 2008.
Pavlovsky said a plaque would denote the Chanel donation, but that art programming would be in the hands of the Arab World Institute, which mounts a variety of exhibitions about Arabic culture and civilization.
The popular site, located on the Seine River just upstream from Notre Dame, also boasts a library, auditorium and rooftop restaurant. It welcomes roughly a million visitors a year.
In his new book “Hollywood Royale,” Andy Warhol’s Protégé Matthew Rolston celebrates the Eighties revival of Hollywood glamour. Featuring more than 100 portraits taken by Rolston from 1977 to 1993, the book contains photos of icons like Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and @drewbarrymore, pictured here in 1991. “Hollywood Royale,” out today, will be accompanied by an exhibition opening at Los Angeles’ Fahey/Klein Gallery on March 1. #wwdeye
"Nowadays when life is not so happy with everything going on in the world, I think people come to me for a little bit of whimsy and color and fun." - Designer Rebecca De Ravenel on her cult-favorite jewelry line. (📸 : @vsteves) #wwd40
“Everyone is talking about how the retail industry is struggling, but I think it’s an incredible time because brands who are doing something different and innovative are setting themselves up for the future,” said @adamgoldston, who founded the luxury athletic brand @apl with his brother @ryangoldsten. The Goldston’s are part of WWD’s 40 under 40: a group of industry notables. See the rest of the list on WWD.com. (📷: @vsteves) #wwd40
@eyeswoon blogger Athena Calderone debuted her first-ever cookbook, “Cook Beautiful,” which is heavily centered on the presentation and visual expression of food. Pictured here are her miso glazed carrots from the book. Get the recipe on WWD.com. (📷: @johnny_miller_) #wwdeye
“It’s passion that helps get anybody to a certain point and it’s what’s propelled me,” said Kith founder @ronniefieg, one of WWD’s 40 under 40: a group of industry notables who are changing the face of retail, fashion and beauty. Fieg, who opened a Manhattan flagship on October 7, began his career at age 13 as a stock boy and salesman for footwear chain David Z. “I think staying true to [my] beliefs, hard work and passion have gotten me to where [Kith] is today.” See the rest of the 40 at WWD.com. (📷: @vsteves) #wwd40
25-year-old @samweaving is about to break out this fall, starring in Netflix’s horror film “The Babysitter,” fittingly out today on Friday the 13th. That’s not the only place you’ll be seeing her, though — Weaving’s got a role Showtime’s “SMILF” and another alongside Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Though she’s got a full plate at the moment, there’s one role she’s got her eye on: Marilyn Monroe. “I’m a little too young at the moment, but it’s on my bucket list,” the actress told WWD (📷: @dandoperalski) #wwdeye
BFF's Poppy Jamie and Suki Waterhouse celebrated the launch of their bag line Pop x Suki at Nordstrom last night. "The line is really about our friendship, and how we are so different but complement each other," said Waterhouse. 👯 (📷: Katie Jones) #wwdeye
After designing the new @louisvuitton and @bulgariofficial flagships and a @chanelofficial boutique opening in Japan, @petermarinoarchitect has another project on his plate: The Lobster Club. Located in the Seagram Building, it’s the famed architect’s first restaurant project in New York, serving up modern Japanese brasserie-style cuisine. Bronze hues, bespoke material detailing, blush and chartreuse tones and a heavy emphasis on Picasso can be seen throughout. Mark your calendars for Nov. 1 for the much-anticipated opening. (📷: @clint_spaulding) #wwdeye
Did you know: @carlychaikin of "Mr. Robot" has been painting for about a decade? The actress, who plays Darlene on the show, is a self-taught artist who lists Salvador Dalí and Chuck Close as some of her idols. Chaikin told WWD that painting is a form of meditation for her — A much-needed one given the intensity of "Mr. Robot." See a piece Chaikin is working on at WWD.com (📷: @jilliansollazzo) #wwdeye


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The firm's bearish outlook on the video streaming service comes as the bull case on the stock is "starting to fray," Axiom senior analyst Victor Anthony said on CNBC's "Halftime Report" this afternoon.
While competition has been a constant concern in the past several years, now that concern is "real," according to Anthony. Netflix faces tough competition from Hulu and Amazon.com's (AMZN) video platforms, and several other competitors will launch services soon.
Increased competition has affected domestic subscriber growth, which has been "sharply" declining for the past several quarters, Anthony said. "The competition is now real. It's starting to impact subscriber growth," he added.
Meanwhile, the firm has received feedback from international markets that want Netflix to produce more original local content, he said. This pressure to spend more on content could affect the company's profitability.
The firm's that are bullish on the stock are looking at the overall "growth story" of Internet television and at Netflix's high-quality original content, Anthony explained.
While both of those upsides may be true, competitive pressure going forward will continue to weigh on subscriber growth, increase churn, and increase pressure to spend money on additional original content, he explained.
Shares of Netflix were higher in mid-afternoon trading on Monday.
Separately, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author.
TheStreet Ratings team rates Netflix as a Hold with a ratings score of C+. The primary factors that have impacted the team's rating are mixed - some indicating strength, some showing weaknesses, with little evidence to justify the expectation of either a positive or negative performance for this stock relative to most other stocks.
You can view the full analysis from the report here: NFLX


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Pasadena-based GuRu Wireless Inc. has entered into a partnership with cellphone giant Motorola to create the first generation of smartphones capable of being powered wirelessly, the company announced Wednesday.
A technology developed by Guru called RF Lensing is capable of delivering power to mobile devices at distances of meters, the company said in a written statement.
“This proprietary technology revolutionizes the consumer experience and helps to remove power as an everyday concern,” the statement said. “GuRu’s patented, miniature modules will enable devices to be powered at long range by precision power transfer. Motorola and GuRu, will work together to match Motorola’s rigorous requirements of quality, power efficiency and safety.”
GuRu CEO and co-founder Florian Bohn said he expected the collaboration to help push the boundaries of mobile technology, and Motorola was the ideal partner.
“Innovation has always been part of Motorola’s DNA. The company has long enriched our lives with its ecosystem of smart devices and solutions,” he said. “We are excited to join forces with an industry leader whose goal is to improve the consumer experience. Together, we will introduce true mobility for portable smart devices and sensors.”
The cellphone maker was also enthusiastic about the partnership, according to Motorola Vice President of Product Dan Dery.
“At Motorola we are constantly working to bring innovations to the market that can improve our consumers’ lives. With this solution we will provide a glimpse of the freedom and flexibility that users can enjoy with a revolutionary over-the-air, wireless power technology,” he said. “With GuRu, we imagine a new generation of wirelessly powered devices.”
More information on GuRu Wireless Inc. is available on the company website at guru.inc.


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Private equity firm Advent International will lead the acquisition of 34.37% stake in Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals, along with Temasek
Mumbai: Private equity firm Advent International on Friday announced that it has signed a share purchase agreement with Avantha Holdings Ltd, the promoter of Crompton Greaves Ltd, whereby Advent will lead the acquisition of 34.37% stake in Crompton Greaves’ consumer products business.
Another leading private equity firm, Temasek Holdings, will be a co-investor along with Advent for the stake in Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd (CGCEL).
The transaction values CGCEL at an enterprise value of Rs.6,600 crore ($1.07 billion).
CGCEL will be demerged from Crompton Greaves into a stand-alone company and will consequently be listed on the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and BSE Ltd.
Thereafter, Advent, a global private equity firm with a dedicated presence in India, and Temasek, an investment company based in Singapore, will make an open offer for additional shares of CGCEL in compliance with takeover regulations.
The transaction is subject to closing conditions and receipt of all statutory and other approvals, including the successful demerger of CGCEL from Crompton Greaves and the approvals of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Competition Commission of India, Advent said in a statement.
In July 2014, Crompton Greaves, which makes products ranging from transformers to electrical appliances, had decided to demerge its consumer products business unit into a separate publicly traded firm, as a prelude to a potential stake sale. Fans, appliances, lighting, pumps, home automation, integrated security systems and wiring accessories come under the consumer products business unit. The firm has two more business divisions: power systems (that makes switch gear products) and industrial systems (that makes generators).
At the time, the firm said the demerger will create better growth opportunities for its two large but significantly different businesses: power, industrial and automation (B2B, or business to business) and the consumer products business (B2C, or business to consumer).
The idea was to allow the two businesses to grow independently, pursue more ambitious strategic goals and, thus, create further value for existing shareholders, the company had said in July. In March 2015, Crompton Greaves had secured necessary approvals to demerge its consumer product business into a separate listed entity. The new firm—CGCEL—will be a new operating company from 1 October 2015 under the so-called scheme of arrangement.
For the quarter ended 31 March 2014, the consumer products division registered a revenue of Rs.748.36 crore, contributing a little more than one-third to the company’s total revenue. The company has lately been focusing more on its consumer durables segment. For instance, in the fiscal 2014, Crompton Greaves increased its reach by adding 11,150 new retailers and 194 distributors, according to its annual report.
Founded in 1984, Advent International is one of the largest global private equity investors. Since inception, the firm has invested in more than 290 buyout transactions in 39 countries. The firm has €25 billion in assets under management with special focus on consumer business, according to its website. Temasek is an investment company based in Singapore, with a S$223 billion portfolio as on 31 March 2014.


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Apple, Google, and Others Push Senate to Limit NSA Spying
Apple, Google, and several other Internet and technology companies are in a race against the clock to get the Senate to approve a bill that will end the NSA’s bulk data collection programs. Known as the USA Freedom Act, S. 2685, the bill aims to stop the government’s collection and storage of the electronic communications of U.S. citizens who have not been accused of any wrongdoing. As noted by Bloomberg, supporters of the bill are hoping to get it passed on November 18, to ensure that it becomes law before the Republican majority takes control of the Senate. Many Republicans support the current surveillance programs and there are fears that the bill would not be passed in a Republican-dominated Senate.
For millions of ordinary U.S. citizens, their right to privacy is at stake. Reform Government Surveillance, a coalition of tech companies that includes Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and many others, recently sent an open letter to the Senate that urged passage of the bill in order to protect “the rights of the individual” and “the freedoms we all cherish.”
However, for the tech companies, there is also billions of dollars at stake, as foreign governments and businesses shy away from American tech companies due to concerns about spying. These concerns were highlighted in another open letter sent to Senator Mitch McConnell from Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, a trade organization whose members include many of the same tech companies that are part of the Reform Government Surveillance coalition.
“American technology companies have been hurt by reaction to the revelation of the U.S. government’s bulk data collection,” wrote Shapiro. “Many companies have lost business, or face laws designed to restrict data flows, due to foreign governments’ fear that the U.S. government can reach company-managed data at will. This distrust hurts U.S. companies competing globally for business, and could result in the loss of thousands of jobs. In fact, several companies, including members of CEA, have already lost contracts with foreign governments worth millions of dollars.”
While Shapiro didn’t cite specific examples of contracts that U.S. companies have lost due to spying concerns, his claims are backed up by an economic cost estimate provided by Forrester Research analyst James Staten. According to Staten, the NSA’s spying programs could cost the U.S. cloud computing industry up to $180 billion in lost revenue by 2016. This estimate does not include the economic impact that the U.S. government’s surveillance programs have had on the overall tech industry. For example, earlier this year Apple’s iPhone was described as a threat to national security by China’s state-run China Central Television (CCTV), due to fears that it could be used to spy on users, reports Reuters.
In May, the House of Representatives passed a Republican-backed version of the USA Freedom Act known as H.R. 3361. However, that version of the bill was opposed by many of the same tech companies that support Senate bill, S. 2685, for not going far enough. “Unfortunately, the version that just passed the House of Representatives could permit bulk collection of Internet ‘metadata’ (e.g. who you email and who emails you), something that the Administration and Congress said they intended to end,” noted the Reform Government Surveillance coalition in a letter to the Senate. “Moreover, while the House bill permits some transparency, it is critical to our customers that the bill allow companies to provide even greater detail about the number and type of government requests they receive for customer information.”
The tech companies’ push to limit the government’s surveillance programs comes over a year after former NSA contractor Edward Snowden first exposed the extent of the NSA’s bulk data collection programs in 2013. Since then, there has been a growing concern from the public and the tech industry about the privacy and security of electronic communications. Today, most major U.S. tech companies issue regular transparency reports that provide limited information on government requests for access to users’ data.
Tech companies have also stepped up their efforts to protect users’ data through improved security measures, which has sometimes drawn criticism from law enforcement officials. After Google and Apple implemented default encryption in the latest versions of the Android and iOS mobile operating systems, FBI Director James Comey criticized the companies for allowing people to “place themselves above the law,” according to Huffington Post. While it remains to be seen if the tech companies’ latest effort to curb the government’s spying powers will be successful, it’s clear that this controversial issue is far from settled.
Follow Nathanael on Twitter @ArnoldEtan_WSCS


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SHOE shops are to be allowed to open to deal with children’s footwear only.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil: ‘We are finalising specific guidance that would facilitate shoe shops to provide for children.”
It will be allowed by appointment online or by a phone call, Mr Martin said.
The move would facilitate shoe-fitting services in particular to measure children and to provide for children’s footwear, he said, amid complaints that fast-growing youngsters need new shoes over prolonged lockdown.
Mr Martin said it was a fair point that have been raised, not only by TDs but also medical by personnel in contact with the Government.
But he stressed that the opening of shoe shops would be on the sole basis “to provide that service and the subsequent sale of children's shoes only.”
Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has raised the issue of children's shoes, calling for shoe shops to be added to the list of essential retail.
Mr Martin confirmed in reply that it was an issue which the Government had been examining, “because we do take the point that there have been issues in terms of children.”
Shoes are an essential item in terms of the growth and development of children, and there was “a need to provide for that.”
But he warned the planned opening of shoe shops was not to enable adults to acquire new footwear. “It’s very specific to children, very specific to the needs of children and growing children.”
He confirmed however: “We will be providing for that in guidance and in regulations that will be published shortly.”


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S.Korea's headline inflation hits 10-year high in November
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's headline inflation hit the highest in almost 10 years in November owing to higher prices for oil products and farm goods, statistical office data showed Thursday.
The consumer price index (CPI) stood at 109.41 in November, up 3.7 percent from a year ago, according to Statistics Korea.
It has marked the fastest increase since December 2011, hovering above 3 percent for the second consecutive month.
The consumer price inflation topped the central bank's mid-term inflation target of 2 percent for the eighth straight month, with 2.3 percent in April, 2.6 percent in May, 2.4 percent in June, 2.6 percent in July, 2.6 percent in August, 2.5 percent in September and 3.2 percent in October.
To tackle the escalating inflationary pressure, the Bank of Korea (BOK) raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 1 percent in late November, after lifting the key rate by 25 basis points three months earlier.
Price for industrial products, including oil products, advanced 5.5 percent in November from a year earlier, registering the highest gain in 10 years since November 2011.
Oil products price surged 35.5 percent, posting the highest in over 13 years since July 2008. Price for gasoline and diesel picked up 33.4 percent and 39.7 percent each.
The government cut the fuel tax by 20 percent since Nov. 20 in a bid to lower burden for energy cost.
Processed food price rose 3.5 percent in November from a year ago due to higher price for milk and bread.
Price for electricity, tap water and natural gas added 1.1 percent last month.
Price for agricultural, livestock and fishery products went up 7.6 percent in November on a yearly basis due to poor harvest, caused by a sharp fall in temperature in winter time.
Price for cucumber and lettuce almost doubled, and those for egg, imported beef and pork posted a double-digit growth.
Private services price advanced 3.0 percent in November from a year earlier, logging the highest since January 2012.
The services price went up as the government alleviated quarantine measures against the COVID-19 pandemic amid a higher vaccination rate.
Eating-out cost spiked 3.9 percent last month, while the services cost, except for eating-out, gained 2.3 percent on higher insurance premium.
Public services price added 0.6 percent in November, after jumping 5.4 percent in the previous month.
Housing rent, including Jeonse and monthly rent, was up 1.9 percent in November from a year earlier.
Jeonse is South Korea's unique contract between two households where a landlord grants the two-year residential right to a tenant who in turn lends a certain amount of money, or deposit, to the landlord.
Core consumer price, which excludes volatile agricultural and oil products, increased 2.3 percent in November on a yearly basis. It was down from 2.8 percent in the previous month.
The OECD-method core price, which excludes food and energy cost, was up 1.9 percent last month.
The livelihood items index, which measures price for daily necessities, went up 5.2 percent in the month. It has been the fastest growth since August 2011.
The fresh food index, which gauges price for fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetable, surged 6.3 percent in November on higher vegetable price.


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China-based mobile payment provider Alipay has its eyes on Singapore and plans to offer its platform to consumers in the city-state.
It initially eyes expanding its operations in Singapore by targeting tourists from China and Chinese citizens living on the island as well as others subscribed to a China banking account.
Currently, customers of Alibaba's financial arm are required to have a China bank-issued credit card or a China banking account for debiting transactions.
A report from the Business Times said Alipay signed an agreement with CC Financial Services Pte Ltd's CCPay to increase the number of Alipay acceptance points in Singapore. This is in addition to the 20,000 points it already has, of which 17,000 are for taxis.
The firm announced that it will open its payment platform to Singapore banking users soon.
To recall, Alipay had outfitted all ComfortDelGro taxis with Alipay acceptance points. It also tapped Prime Taxi earlier in March this year to offer Alipay on their cabs.
The remaining 3,000 acceptance points were spread in brick-and-mortar shops in tourist spots such as Chinatown, Sentosa, and Orchard Road.
With the deal with CCPay, Alipay acceptance points will be rolled out initially in People's Park Complex and Chinatown. There are also plans in place to put more in areas like Bugis, Geylang, and Clementi.
Data from the Singapore Tourism Board point at China as the second largest source market of Singapore. Last year, around 2.86 million visitors in the Lion City are from China.
CC Financial Services founder and director Jed Huang noted that firms are not required to register for an Alipay account to use the service as CCPay would be the one handling all transactions.
Merchants which carries out a deal in Singapore dollars, for instance, will result in customers having a billable amount converted to renminbi that will be deducted from his Alipay account. CCPay would receive the deducted amount in Singapore dollars, allowing the merchant to receive the money in local currency.
"However, there may still be some transaction or admin costs," Huang said in an interview with the Business Times.


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It would be an understatement to say 2019 was a year full of ups and downs. It truly was a growth year in many ways for the Cannabis industry.
2019 was an exciting and often challenging year for the Cannabis industry, and there are a lot of questions in the community about how 2020 will shake out. Before we make predictions about what 2020 might have in store for us all, it’s important to reflect on what we have experienced as an industry in 2019, including the trends we here at FlowerHire are seeing first hand in the Cannabis talent market.
It would be an understatement to say 2019 was a year full of ups and downs. It truly was a growth year in many ways for the Cannabis industry. Some of that growth was because of new states opening up adult use or medical, but a lot of that growth was personal for people within the industry – because this was definitely the most challenging year in cannabis since adult use legalization began.
Here are the three major trends the team and I at FlowerHire observed in 2019. For context, we have placed over 300 people into the Cannabis industry since our founding in 2017 – and we have thousands of conversations with operators, investors, and candidates every year – so much of this knowledge is first hand from people intimately involved in the industry.
Access to capital
Entering 2019, there was a widespread thesis about the future of the global cannabis industry being anchored by brands originating in California (and New York City once that eventually becomes a recreational market). Not wanting to miss out on this foundational opportunity, from late 2018 through the first half of 2019 investors poured money into California operators that talked of building a portfolio of brands. Everyone was pitching themselves as becoming the Diageo of cannabis. Investors seemed less concerned about a path to profitability and more concerned about missing out on this fleeting window to get in early. This led to massive hiring and investment in infrastructure. By the middle of 2019 over 200,000 people were employed in the Cannabis industry across the country. However, as it happens in most emerging markets, the stories of parabolic growth subsided. You could blame many things, from the Canadian public markets, the vaping crisis (which we will touch on more), lack of regulatory change in Washington, etc. Then, all of a sudden, investors started asking the questions around being profitable that many companies were not ready to answer. By the fall of 2019 the capital dried up and companies that had raised the biggest sums of money on impossible to hit growth targets realized the easy money was gone, and some high profile layoffs hit the industry. Companies literally swung from increasing a workforce by 10% QOQ and talking about tackling scale, attracting talent, and the challenges of onboarding so many people to abruptly laying people off and standing on the precipice of missing payroll or other financial challenges.
The public markets in Canada
I can speak for myself, and many of the great people I have come across in the past few years of my cannabis journey, and say no one had ever heard of the Canadian Stock Exchange before cannabis. During the first portion of 2019 Canada was still on top. The global cannabis market had three hubs: California was the hub for brands, Israel was the hub for research, and Canada was the hub for the cannabis capital markets. While we had no access to capital markets in the USA, the Canadians were providing much needed access to capital and banking, and were such nice people. The public markets presented a great way to raise capital for an industry starved for it, where you couldn’t get corporate debt at fair market rates. In the US, a lot of institutional and mainstream equity funds are too skittish to invest while cannabis is still a scheduled narcotic. A frenzy to go public in Canada hit the US cannabis industry. The problem was, many of these companies should not have gone public because they weren’t ready to satisfy the demands of public scrutiny and the desire for profitability. They weren’t designed to be profitable yet; they were designed to win licenses, spend money, and become first to operate in new territories. On top of that, the CSE is not a mainstream public market; one or two major trades can manipulate the stock price. By summer of 2019 the share prices of the first moving US based Multi-State Operators and Canadian cannabis pharmaceutical companies were all in free fall. Investors had lost all patience. Whether you were running a good business or not, your valuation was being lumped in with a few bad actors. The Canadian market was being dragged down by oversupply and lack of access. The US operators that were funding their expansion through stock issuance could no longer do so because the stock was underwater. In fact, the stock of the 20 largest cannabis operators ended the year down over 40% in 2019. Without viable secondary offerings by Q4 of 2019, the only capital sources available to the largest US Multi-State Operators became debt at predatory levels of interest. This became a major drag not only on the biggest cannabis operators, but in turn trickled down to the private companies that were searching for growth capital.
The vaping crisis:
Sitting here in 2020 it seems like mainstream news has moved on to other topics, but few things left their mark in 2019 more than “Vapegate.” Entering 2019 vaping and oil based products had all the momentum. Flower was on the decline. Vaping was discreet, tasty, and even had a notion of being better for you than smoking flower. At one point in the spring there were over 700 brands of THC vapes alone trying to sell into the legal market in California. For context, in 2020 we still have less than 700 licensed dispensaries open in the state. Then the vaping crisis happened. The winners ended up being flower and low dose edibles. Now, according to BDS Analytics vape sales have actually increased in California in December 2019 from November 2019. Consumer trends have moved vaping customers towards whole plant live resin extracts and oils. The one positive I saw out of “Vapegate” was that the cannabis industry actually developed a cohesive message to respond, and was able to sway the regulatory regime from drastic measures such as banning all vape sales to a more measured response. The message echoed by the industry was that the products sold in licensed dispensaries are not the cause of the crisis, they are the solution. The illicit market products are the major public safety problem. The products that make it onto shelves are tested and safe. The California based testing lab CannaSafe became a major thought leader; publishing information on the safety of products they tested. It was repeatedly communicated from within that if the illicit market went away the public would be safer. Make the regulatory regime more pro-growth, a powerful and true message.
State legalization trends:
2019 was the year that we saw Michigan prepare for full adult use of cannabis and saw its first adult use dispensaries open up. We saw Illinois be the first state where elected officials were the ones to pass legalization through legislation. Efforts were finalized to expunge the cannabis related criminal records of thousands across the country. Vermont finally decided on rules through which its legal cannabis industry could operate. Unfortunately, after much momentum entering 2019, New York and New Jersey were unable to legalize it by the end of the year. But, we did see an unprecedented consortium on cannabis that included governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut about coordinating legalization efforts. Oklahoma of all places saw a massive medical cannabis boom! By the end of 2019 cannabis was fully legal in 11 states and legal for some form of medical use in another 22.
Talent and HR Trends:
From a talent and human resources perspective, 2019 was the year where operators in cannabis started being able to compete for top talent. Management and salaried workers started seeing salaries in line with other industries, though executive compensation still lagged behind. Hourly production and manufacturing workers often had the chance to make more in cannabis than in similar roles in other industries. Health insurance became on par with what was offered in other industries and cannabis companies finally had the opportunities and desires to build a world class employment brands to attract and retain talent.
From my perspective the first skill sets that the cannabis industry started recruiting en masse from outside were Accounting and Legal help. These largely risk averse demographics were desperately needed for this hyper-regulated industry. As the year went on, cannabis operators began hiring more and more employees from the regulated CPG world of alcohol, food, beauty and nutraceuticals with backgrounds in operations, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. A major shift in the last half of 2019 that I saw was that for the first time it became possible to hire someone with almost any skills that already had some work experience in cannabis. As some once high flying companies lost their funding and some early movers into cannabis reentered the job market, they have been hired up by other companies excited to have someone who already understands the unique quirks of working in cannabis.
So, what about 2020?
Here are my six industry predictions for 2020:
There is going to be some more bad news from big public companies. We have seen a lot of this in 2019, with MedMen at the top of the list of distressed companies. However, people in the cannabis industry are fighters, and MedMen isn’t the only company reinventing itself to find profitability. If you do the research on filings from the biggest US public cannabis companies, you will find very few have more than a quarter of capital runway in the bank, and many are mired in long term debt. Without the ability to file bankruptcy in federal courts, some of these operators are in for a tough road ahead and there will be more and more forced consolidation.
Supply chain issues will permeate new recreational markets. Even mature markets like California and Colorado have supply chain disruptions. People have long predicted the price of flower to come down in California, and it still hasn’t happened. Granted, it costs less per pound to buy legal cannabis than before legalization, but prices are still high and it makes it extremely hard to be profitable as a brand operator in the space without control of your supply. In new recreational markets like Illinois and Michigan you will hear of shortages of cannabis all year and it will be several years to build a consistent supply chain in these states to support and grow the legal market.
New states will legislate or vote in adult use / medical. I think New York and New Jersey will legalize adult use cannabis in 2020. Arizona and Florida could follow suit. More states in the south like Georgia will expand their medical programs and even states like Mississippi will start medical cannabis programs in search of tax revenue and jobs.
The funding will come back, smarter. This cannot happen soon enough. It will take time, but by the end of 2020 there will be growth and an acknowledgement that this industry just takes time to form. Every state is brand new and investors will have more data and be more realistic about timelines. While some more bad news is likely in store in the short term that will depress valuations and spook investors, new and different types of investors are interested in cannabis and will enter the arena in 2020. Additionally, operators are getting smarter about figuring out how to run a long term sustainable business, and have given up on the dream of a quick exit. There will be some public companies announcing earnings and revenue growth that will show there is a path to profitability in this industry. California, the biggest cannabis market, will make some changes to its regulatory schema that are more pro-growth. If Washington changes anything around banking or delisting another boom will come. Unfortunately, I don’t think that is likely.
Consolidation. We are going to continue to see M&A activity across state borders. Bigger operators with capital are going to swallow up smaller ones that can’t get the money they need to operationalize their licenses. Even in west coast states, you will see the Bain and McKinsey types and the MBA’s come in pressing hard on unit economics and control of your supply chain to have profitability.
Finally, and importantly for those interested in career opportunities in the Cannabis Industry, What type of jobs are going to be in demand in 2020?
1 Compliance, Compliance, Compliance – From JDs that understand the General Counsel hat to interpreting complex regulations and specialists from regulated manufacturing that know how to construct SOPS. Everyone will need more compliance!
2 Cultivation Expertise – East Coast and Great Lake markets will need to train and / or import people to understand the nuances of large-scale indoor cannabis cultivation, post harvest curing and packaging, nursery management, and breeding. These folks haven’t existed in these states (ever) and consumers will demand consistent high quality products.
3 Science Based Skill Sets – Whether it is workers in a testing laboratory that understand how to calibrate and operate expensive machinery to ensure public safety, or folks with advanced degrees working in R&D, this industry will continue to need more and more trained scientists.
4 Financial Forecasting and Modeling – A push by investors to have a path to profitability and an overall maturation of the industry will make companies hire more folks that understand FP&A, Financial Operations, Cost Accounting, and Supply Chain Forecasting.
5 Proven Executives with Startup Experience – Cannabis is a startup industry. Pedigree is one thing but with a high failure and burn out rate, I see more Boards, Executives, and Investors recognize the need to have folks that have succeeded in a resource constrained hyper-growth mode companies come in and operate cannabis businesses.
6 HR Talent – Last but not least, HR talent. This industry is emerging at a time when people want to work in conscious, diverse, companies where their well being is nurtured and their company appreciates them. To recruit and retain the world-class talent, this industry needs forward thinking companies and executives to bring on new school HR professionals to help with managing scale, communicating vision, and building first-rate employment brands and cultures.
The broader cannabis community had a wild ride in 2019. I am fortunate enough in my unique position as Founder of FlowerHire to speak with hundreds of operators, investors, and talented candidates every year. Hearing from the people that make up this industry directly, I can attest to the stress and uncertainty that people are feeling. I feel it myself. However, the one constant in all of these conversations is the unwavering belief in the power of the plant, and the knowledge that destigmatizing and legalizing cannabis is not just a job – it’s a mission. Our country has wasted billions in taxpayer dollars to fight a failed war on drugs, and more importantly has destroyed communities across this country by locking up people, largely folks from marginalized groups, for non-violent drug charges. Regardless of the challenges, cannabis legalization will not be stopped – and we will continue to make strides. 2020 is going to be the year of Cannabis, so let’s get to work.
FlowerHire is a Cannabis / Hemp focused Recruiting and Executive Search Firm that – in addition to standard contingency placement and exec search – also provides embedded recruiting services and strategic talent advisory to clients across North America. Focusing on executive and strategic hires, with an average salary in 2019 of $130,000. We have helped over 300 candidates land their dream jobs in the cannabis industry across 8 states. Our mission is to Build a Conscious Cannabis Community, one hire at a time. FlowerHire, Talent in Cannabis.


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Store Owner Says Burglars Stole $20,000 While She Was on Vacation
A store owner wasn’t expecting her surveillance video to be so action-packed. Catalina Palomino says her South American grocery store and restaurant in Northridge, California, was broken into and burglarized while she was away on vacation. She shared the video with CBS News in Los Angeles. She says eight thieves made off with about $20,000 in cash, merchandise, and lottery tickets, and she believes they knew where to find everything. Inside Edition Digital’s Mara Montalbano has more.


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ollywood Bowl disclosed that it is to open up a new London web page as the chain threw open up doorways for the first time given that Christmas expecting “strong desire” from family members, and reported a lockdown-period loss.
The UK’s major 10-pin bowling operator, which floated in in 2016 and has 64 centres throughout the British isles, also released relatives-targeted mini-golfing featuring Puttstars in March 2020 in a bid to disrupt the current market.
On Monday the listed chain said it signed 3 new internet sites in the last six months, together with a Puttstars for Harrow set to open afterwards this calendar year. It is in sophisticated negotiations for another 11 sites.
The firm reported a £14.5 million pre-tax decline in the 50 percent year to April, down from £15.2 million financial gain in the exact period the previous calendar year. But finance main Laurence Keen highlighted that the company, which was shuttered for 75% of the interval, has £8.2 million in web money and has been boosted by a £29.3 million fairness raise in March that is set to fuel ongoing expenditure in the estate and “good quality” new openings.
The chain has also been aided by “optimistic engagement” with landlords enabling solid funds administration in the half, such as “substantial” lease publish-offs for intervals closed, Keen reported.
Close to 1,600 employees are starting back at function, and Eager told the Standard: “We are super energized about opening now and demand from customers is there.”
The CFO mentioned the chain went for Harrow owing to its significant number of household-oriented residents and smaller current leisure presenting, and explained the team is focusing on leisure locations for new openings rather than low-priced slots at the moment going in retail parks, as the firm would like to be “a place” shut to restaurants.
Chief executive, Stephen Burns, claimed the business is “rising from this hard 12 months of ongoing lockdowns in a strong posture to capitalise on the prospects to make investments”, and that the “power of our pre- bookings for Could presents us confidence that we can get well to pre-pandemic efficiency amounts as families flock again” to indoor leisure.
Analysts at Investec stated: “We be expecting trade to recuperate strongly, benefiting from continued investment around the past six months.”
Shares have been down .6%, or 1.5p, to 235p, in early buying and selling.
Losses widen at recruiter Staffline following Covid hit to need for producing careers
lue-collar recruiter Staffline has described a hefty 2020 loss immediately after Covid‘s strike to manufacturing work, but bosses are hailing a resurgence in some sectors and the Goal-listed firm’s new “leaner” functions.
Staffline, which locations close to 40,000 workers a working day at far more than 450 client sites, claimed revenues of £927 million for the calendar year to January, down from £1.06 billion a calendar year previously, and noted a widened £51.6 million pre-tax reduction.
The recruiter, which has just slashed virtually 20% of its individual team in a restructuring, set the slump in revenues down to “diminished” need for staff in sectors including superior avenue retail, automotive and manufacturing “throughout” 2020.
But Staffline claimed it noticed initially quarter trading exceed management expectations, providing bosses improved self esteem in the entire yr. Hirings are now escalating throughout vital and on line retail and logistics, warehouse and driving.
The update will come as white-collar recruitment also sees a resurgence, with a “war for talent” underway throughout London. As vaccines roll out and lockdowns start to ease, a selection of firms are again in growth manner or rebuilding right after the tought pandemic 12 months. Some sectors are also seeing a shortage of competent employees.
This thirty day period Staffline tapped the markets for £48.4million to decrease debts and has refinanced its financial debt services, which executives stated have “transformed” the organization harmony sheet.
The organization secured a a few-calendar year extension to its very long-managing contract to provide employees to Tesco in the yr, and now expects to reward from Governing administration spending on re-skilling.
Chief executive, Albert Ellis, mentioned the enterprise “has properly come as a result of 1 of the most challenging durations in its existence” and that even though “market ailments continue to be unstable in individuals sectors which are just opening up pursuing the lockdown, the thriving vaccination programme is offering a springboard for a strong recovery in the next fifty percent of 2021”.
Shares have been down 3.3% on Tuesday morning
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More than half a billion people have now experienced that Shazam “moment”. Mine was at London’s Camden Roundhouse in November 2002, waiting for Michael Moore’s one-man show to start.
“What’s this music that’s playing?” I asked my friend, who whipped out his Nokia phone, dialled 2580 and held it in the air. The answer came back within seconds via text message: it was a song by the Dead Kennedys.
It was one of those jaw-dropping technological moments that one has every couple of years. “No WAY. You’re kidding me,” I said, refusing to believe what had evidently just happened.
Over the next few weeks, I demonstrated this magical Shazam service to everyone I knew. It effectively became a viral app before “viral” or “app” became commonplace terms.
More than 12 years later, Shazam is now synonymous with music identification in the way that Google is synonymous with web search; its nearest rival, Soundhound, has fewer than half the number of users. The company itself – still independent, and with its headquarters in London – is now valued at $1bn after a recent round of funding. “It’s a great success story,” says Ben Drury, founder of music service 7digital, “because it hasn’t fitted the traditional venture-capital timeframe. They’ve had some very patient investors and they’re a great advert for persistence.”
The roll call of digital services that launched in 1999 reads like a memorial for those no longer with us: Excite, Altavista, Napster, boo.com, Flooz and Webvan. Shazam was born that same year, but has demonstrated unusual staying power. Its longevity is centered around its ability to deal with a specific problem that’s always existed: people hearing music outside their homes – in pubs, clubs and sandwich shops – and wanting to know what it is.
Whether it was by luck or judgement, Shazam turned out to be a mobile solution to the problem, one that hasn’t yet been superseded or replaced by a new technology. “Luck is involved with every business,” says Shazam’s executive chairman, Andrew Fisher, “but it’s also about getting the timing right. If anything, we were slightly early.” The technology behind Shazam remains ingenious: pieces of music are analysed according to their peaks on a spectrogram (a visual display of the prominent frequencies in a track, from booming bass to fizzing cymbals), and then distilled down to a small set of unique audio co-ordinates. The lo-fi nature of sounds played over a mobile phone means that this analysis has to be resilient to extraneous noise, distortion, chat and general degradation. The results also have to be stored in a colossal database in order to be compared with incoming data. Shazam achieved both. Positive matches generating song titles was a process that blew our tiny minds.
“They were able to solve the problem using the technology available at the time,” says Paul Smernicki, director of digital at Universal Music UK, “but they couldn’t have foreseen what was going to happen to that technology.”
Fisher concurs. “A number of things changed over the years that we couldn’t control or influence,” he says. “One was digital music: when we started it didn’t actually exist – we had physical CDs, but we didn’t have iTunes.”
The second big change was, of course, the arrival of the smartphone.
“That completely rejuvenated Shazam’s business,” says Drury. “If it wasn’t for the iPhone, I’m not sure they’d still be around.”
“It’s almost like the technology collided with what Shazam was already doing,” says Smernicki, “and when it did, it made it a million times more user-friendly.” The free Shazam app, used by 500 million people across the globe, is now all about that big round button; push the button, and the app will, more often than not, tell you which song is playing.
“The third change was unlimited data tariffs,” says Fisher. “When each of these changes happened, we saw an inflexion point in the number of people using the service.”
By riding the wave of digital music in the first decade of the 21st century, Shazam ended up having a profound effect on the way that music was consumed. The shift from consumption of albums to consumption of single tracks may well have been driven by Apple’s iTunes, but Shazam made those purchases instant and reactive: hear a tune, like a tune, buy a tune.
“Music is an emotive purchase,” says Fisher. “If you enable people to buy something at the point of inspiration, and the price point is accessible, and all they have to do is click a button, then they’ll click that button.”
Shazam now accounts for an astounding 10 per cent of all digital music sales worldwide. By directing people towards iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and other digital retailers, Shazam initiates 500,000 purchases a day – and, for its trouble, gets a cut of the revenue.
But the world of digital evolves quickly. In recent years, sales of mp3s have begun to dwindle as people turn to music streaming services such as Spotify. The idea of “owning” music is becoming old hat; the prospect of paid access to a seemingly infinite jukebox is becoming far more appealing. “The market data is public,” says Drury, “and it’s quite clear that iTunes sales have declined. One would imagine that Shazam’s revenue is falling at least in proportion with that.” Fisher, while agreeing that listening behaviour is changing, notes that these streaming services are also desperate to tap into Shazam’s power.
“They pay us to be integrated into our service,” he says. “They’re trying to acquire new users; they’re in business-building mode. We actually make more money per [streaming] user than we do out of à la carte sales.”
With an enormous user base idly tagging its favourite songs on a daily basis, Shazam evidently forms an integral part of a music industry now driven by data. “Twenty years ago, we were wholesalers,” says Smernicki. “We’d sell Boyzone albums to Woolworths but would have no idea what people were actually doing with those records. Now, there’s a billion and one different data points that you can look at. You can find out exactly what happened yesterday around a certain artist. In fact, there’s almost a risk of data paralysis, because there’s always another data point you can look at; always another counter-argument.”
While the technology behind Shazam can be used to determine which songs are being played around the world at any given moment, it actually supplies a far more useful metric to the industry; which, of all those millions of songs, people are actually enjoying.
And it doesn’t just have to apply to songs. Fisher’s ambition is for Shazam to form an integral part of people’s daily lives. That vision includes Shazam-driven consumption of television, film and indeed every product under the sun. “Recorded music is worth about £6.5bn worldwide per year,” he says. “TV advertising is worth £200bn worldwide, £4bn in the UK. We’ve recognised that people are using Shazam during TV shows and adverts, and we want to help the advertiser create value, extend engagement, build a bigger business.”
North America has been the testing ground for this. Every US TV show and 85 per cent of US TV adverts can now be Shazammed. In these cases the app becomes like an efficient version of those QR barcodes you see on posters; simply launch the app while watching television, and it’ll automatically direct you to more content from that brand, TV show or film studio. Shampoo adverts might send you to hair-styling tutorials; insurance ads might initiate a call to get you an instant quote.
“One of the ways Shazam will measure its success in the future,” says Fisher, “is by the number of users that aren’t going to a web browser and typing in a URL.” Shazam is looking to introduce these TV-based services to its seven million monthly UK users later in 2015.
The last 20 years have seen a whole range of technologies reduce the time that elapses between thought and action, whether that’s cheating in a pub quiz by looking up the names of the contestants in Wacky Races, or making frivolous one-click purchases on eBay. The amount of time we spend immersed in a state of curiosity is being constantly slashed, and Shazam is dedicated to cutting that still further, with its slightly dull talk of “delivering a new paradigm for brands” in order to “effectively execute our corporate strategy”.
Whether you think that this is a heaven-sent way of allowing us to use our time on Earth more efficiently, or represents the tragic death of the human state of wonder, the original idea behind Shazam still feels faintly magical.
Yes, that magic will inevitably fade as “Uber’s Children” grow up and get used to receiving everything they need at the touch of a button, a nod of the head or a distracted murmur.
But for now, Shazamming still feels like a luxury bestowed upon us by the technological gods. I never did buy that record by the Dead Kennedys. Maybe I’ll do it now.Reuse content


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THE BOROUGH is moving into the future with its first-ever recharging points for electric cars.
Drivers of electric vehicles will be able to ‘recharge and go’ at the points, installed by Ealing Council, at Featherstone car park in Southall and Dean Gardens in West Ealing. There are also plans for a similar scheme at Perivale Station.
The points are easy to use, with the driver paying the normal hourly rate to park in the relevant car park and then plugging their electric car or van in to recharge its battery. Both car parks are free to use from 6pm and vehicles can be left overnight.
There is no direct charge for the electricity used, only an annual membership fee of £10 to join Source, a network set up by the Mayor of London and Transport for London.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, Ealing leader for transport and environment said: “We are committed to reducing harmful air pollution from vehicles by encouraging cycling, walking and using public transport where possible.
“Most drivers’ journeys in London are only around two miles on average so electric cars are a great way to have cheap fuel for getting around the city. “We have also invested in car clubs which allow drivers to hire petrol cars on a casual basis rather than have to invest in a car and all of the running costs.”
Benefits of electric vehicles include lower fuel costs, free road tax, exemption from the congestion charge and less pollution.
For more information about the Source scheme, go online at www.sourcelondon.net/membership.